Carbureter.



O. FOX, DECD.

J. c. BGKERT, ADMINISTRATOR.

CARBURETER.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 17, 190B.

Patented Ju1y12,191o.

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

A; uw A.

llNlt'll SAS 'Ahi FFTQE..

JAMES CLENDENIN ECKERT, OF STANFORD, CONNECTICUT, ADMINISTRATOR Oll CHARLES FOX, DECEASED.

cannunn'rna.

Specicat'on of Letters Patent.

Patented Tully 12, i916?.

T o all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that CHARLES Fox, deceased, late a citizen of the United States and a resident of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-` bureters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming part of the same.

The invent-ion, subject of the present application, relates to devices for roducing explosive mixtures of air and hy rocarbon, and is in the nature of an improvement on the carbureter described in a prior application of Charles Fox filed on the 20th day of February, 1906, bearing Serial No. 301,985. The present invention, while embodying the underlying principles of construction and mode of operation of the device described in the said prior application, is more effective in operation and in some respects more simple in design. As the improvements reside largely in the construction of parts or elements entering into the combination Iof the prior application they Will `be more readily understood when described in connection with thel annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the complete carbureter. Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in section, of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section on line wof F ig. 1.

A designates the mixing chamber of the carbur'eter, which is, preferably, cylindrical in form. Surrounding the mixing chamber is an outer casing B, preferably of similar form, large enough in diameter and 'height to leave an air space or chamber around and above the mixing chamber, as shown at a, a for the passage ofair admitted through a pipe C.

The top of the mixing chamber A is formed by a'plate D, having a central aperture surrounded by an upwardly extending tubular neck E in which is fitted a cylindrical valve-member F capable of a reciprocating movement in said neck. At the upper end of the said valve-member is an outwardly extending or horizontal flange G adapted to seat, when the valve-member is in its lowermost position on the upper edge of the neck E, and also on a shoulder or flange H, on the surrounding wall of the upper portion of the casing B. In order to prevent pounding of the valve upon its seats, an annular groove, very slihtly 1s greater in diameter than the flange slightly lower than the face of the shoulder, H, and the inner edge ofthe shoulder is slightly lower than the fact of the shoulder, whereby a certain amount of air will be trapped by the flange in its descent, `thus forming a cushion for the same. lt will be seen that when the valve-member is in its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, the annular passage through which air" is drawn through port G is closed.

The upper and somewhat constricted por. tion of the casing B is closed by a plate J, secured by screws K, mounted upon said plate J, and extending into the central aperture therein, is a chambered cast-ing L, constructed as hereinafter described, to contain the controlling and needle valves. 'Through the center of the casting L is a vertical bore containing a stem M provided with or carrying at its lower end an enlarged and upturned flange N, in form resembling aninverted umbrella, provided with an annular row of perforations n, adjacent to the stem. rlhe stem M rests normally upon and is supported by the solid center of a spider V, extending across the upper portion of the cylindrical valve-member lt?.

On opposite sides of the central bore in castin .L and parallel therewith chambers 0 are drilled, the lower portions of which are of reduced diameter, and having the shoulders at the top of such reduced portions beveled to form tapering valve seats, as shown.

yEach of the valves cooperating with the seats just referred to is composed cfa body o havingv flanges 0 fitting the chamber in which they work, and a stem 02 extending down through the casting L. The lower flange of each valve is notched at its edge, as shown, and' its underside is formed to fit the tapering valve seat before referred to. Above the valves are spiral springs P re-` tained in place by a cover Q and serving to hold the valves normally on their-seats, as will be readily understood.

R, R are needle valves controlling openings from. the chambers 0, U. lin communication with these openinO's are suitable ducts or pipes S, S, connected with one or more vessels containing the liquid or liquids which are to be utilized for producing the explosive mixture. ln the construction descrlbed it -will be seen that even if the needle valves thebottom of the mixingchamber a pipe X is connected, through which the explosive charges are drawn into ,the engine.

The construction of the device and its various parts having been explained, the functions and operations of the same will now be readily understood.

It is, of course, assumed that the carbu- 'reter is used in connection with lan internal combustion engine or the like, and that the air which enters at C is drawn through the device and into the engine by the suction produced by the movement of the engine pistons. It is also to be assumed that this air is heated before enterin the mixing chamber, either by the heat of the engine exhaust or by any other suitable means, not shown. When the engine, having been started in the usual way, is runnin normally; the operation is or appears to as follows: By the movement of a piston in the vengine a partial vacuum is createdin the mixing chamber A and in the space above the flange G of the valve member F. The pressure of the air in the annular chamber a, therefore, lifts the said valve-member a ainst the force of gravity and raises the ange G from its seat.

The lifting of the valve-member F raises the stem M and the engagement of the upturned flange N with the valve stems oz--between which and said flange there is a' slight clearance to enable the valves o to rest firmly in their tapered seats-raises said valves o. One or more of the needle valves R, being open toadmit liquid hydrocarbon into the annular spaces between the flanges of the valves o, a charge of this liquid is drawn down through the valves, around stems 02 and discharged upon the umbrella or mushroom shaped flange N, and spreading over the same passes down through the perforations therein. In this way the charges of liquid hydrocarbon are thoroughly diffused, an action which, as it will be understood, is greatly facilitated and quickened when the surfaces oyer which it flows become heated. The valve-member F in addition to controlling the admission of hydrocarbon controls also the admission of air. The lifting of the valve is followed b an inrushof heated air through the annu ar port covered by the flange G. This air coming in contact with the diffused hydrocarbon takes it up in the form of spray, carries it down through the central passage or port 'in the valve F into the mixing chamber. The greater proportion of the air enters the mixing chamber in the vmanner just described, but the remainder of each charge is admitted through a series of apertures T in the sides of the cylindrical valve body F immediately. below the flange G, which apertures, as will be seen, are uncovered as the valve F rises. rl`his portion of the charge of-air meets the main portion, whichy is carrying the hydrocarbon, and being directed into the descending current the two `are commingled. In the mixing chamber the union of the air-and the hydrocarbon is completed, and the resulting explosive mixture passes to the engine by way of pipe X. As soon as the engine ceases to draw air fromthe carbureter, the valve F, of course, falls under the combined influence of' gravityl and the reaction of the compressed springs P, and this movement not only serves to cut od the further admission of air from the port C, by causing the flange G to close the annular port around the neck E, but also permits the valves o to close under the influence of their springs and so shut off the supply ofhydrocarbon at the tapered seats o. The annular spaces between the flanges of valves o being always in communication with the needle valves are kept filled with hydrocarbon. The quantity of hydrocarbon admitted to the carbureter for each charge depends, as will readily be seen, upon the range of movement of the stem M, and the consequent duration of the intervals during which the valves are open, or lifted from their seats. The range of movement of the stem can be regulated in any convenient Way, the means illustrated for the purpose in the present case being a plunger M working in the central bore in the casting L and controlled by a lever m. By the vertical adjustment of this plunger, more or less play of the stem M is permitted. In starting the device in. operation a highly volatile hydrocarbon, such as gasolene, should of course be used; but after the carbureter has become well warmed up the supply of, gasolene may be cut off and a heavier or less volatile hydrocarbon, such as alcohol, kerosene, or even petroleum dis tillate may be used. For th1s purpose the ducts or pipes S connected with one of the chambers O are connected to a vessel or vessels containing gasolene or similar hydrocarbon, while the vessel to which the other ducts S are connected contains the hydrocarbon to be used on starting. By having separate vessels for the several ducts or pipes a mixture of two, three or four different hydrocarbons can be used, in which case the relative proportions of the constituents of the mixture can be regulated by means of suitable valves, not shown, in the pipes S.

As has been stated above, the underlying 'principles of construction and operation of this device are those set forth in the prior application of Charles Fox, led February 20th, 1906, before referred to; but as the present application is based solely upon.

improvements on'the device ofthe prior application the s aid improvements are claimed aside from those availed of in its application to the specific form of device 'herein shown.

What is claimed as the invention of the said CHARLES Fox is: v

1. In a carbureter, the combination of a mixing chamber having an inlet, an outer casing containing an annular air port around said inlet, a hollow cylindrical valve `body vprovided with a fiangecovering said port, and with a series of ports in its side walls, the said valve being adapted to be raised b suction Within the mixing chamber and y its movement to admit a-ir thereto through both its central bore and the ports in its side walls, as set forth.

2. InV a carbureter, the combination of a mixing chamber having an air inlet formed through 'an upwardly extending neck,4 an outer casing providing an annular port around said neck, a hol ow cylindrical valve body Working in said neck provided with a flange covering the annular port andwith a series of ports in its side walls, the said valve being adapted to be raised by suction Within the mixing chamber and by its movement to admit air thereto through both its central bore and the ports in its side walls, as set forth.

3. In. a carbureter, the combination of a 'mixing chamber vhaving a tubular neck constituting an inlet, an outer casing inclos'ing said neck and provided -with an annular air port around the same, a gravity valve working in said neck and composed o fa hollow cylindrical body provided with a liange covering the annular port and with a series of ports in its side walls, the said valve being adapted -to be raised by suction within the mixing chamber and when so raised to open the annular port andcarry the side ports above the neck, as set forth.

' 4. In a carbureter, the combination of a mixing chamber having an air inlet, a hollow valve body Working in said inlet, and controlling b its movement the admission of charges o hydrocarbon and air through its bore into vthe mixing chamber, and provided with ports in its side walls for admitting air to the mixture of hydrocarbon and air Within the bore of the valve, as set forth.

5. In a carbureter, the combination with a mixing chamber having a tubular neck constituting an air-inlet, of an outerv casin providing an annular air-port around sai neck, means for delivering hydrocarbon to `the mixing chamber through said air-inlet, and a valve adapted to reciprocate in said tubular neck, provided with atlange spanningthe said annular air-port and having a central opening for admitting air and hy' drocarbon tothe mixing chamber and one or more lateral ports for admitting air to the air .and l hydrocarbon flowing through the central opening, asset forth.

6. In a carbureter, the combination of a. valve controlling-the iow vof air through the carbureter, a member adjacent to said valve for deliveringY hydrocarbon 'to the carbureter, a stein arranged to reciprocate in said member and arranged to ,be actuated by said valve, means carried by the stem for receivin and diffusing the hydrocarbon delivered y the said member, and a valve dependent for actuation upon the movement of said stein for controlling the delivery of hydrocarbon onto the diffusing means, as set forth.

7. In a carbureter, means for delivering hydrocarbon thereto comprising a member having@ bore extendin through the same and having a hydrocar on chamber open at a bint adjacent to one end of said bore, a S a'/ flange o nl the sten/if-'arran ed to receive the hydrocarbon from the sai chamber, and a valve in the 4chamber controlling the delivery of hydrocarbon l therefrom and arranged to be actuated by the movement of the saidV H ange; in' combination with a valve. arranged 4to control the flow of air through the carbureter and to Vactuate said stem, as

' set forth.

JAMES CLENDENIN ECKERT, Administrator ofthe estate of Charles Foa'.

Witnesses:

S.. S. DUNHAM,

LAWSON em arranged lto reciprocate in said bore,

dit 

